To clear air, TN releases Jaya's medical reports

J Jayalalithaa was not administered wrong drugs prior to her hospitalisation in September last year, the Tamil Nadu government said on Monday.

As the clamour rose for an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the chief minister’s death on December 5, 2016, the government released details from collated treatment records.

Neither hospital that had treated her mentions “evidence of trauma or any other event as alleged by certain political leaders”, according to a statement signed by Dr J Radhakrishnan, principal secretary, department of health.

Teams from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, had also visited Chennai to treat the AIADMK leader, who was admitted to Apollo Hospital here on September 22.

The Edappadi Palaniswami government said it had studied the medical records in detail, and found them “mutually consistent and in consonance” with the information it had submitted to the Madras High Court.

The government sought to counter “insinuations” that Jayalalithaa had developed complications because someone had given her wrong drugs over a period. “In this context, the medical reports indicate that except for corticosteroids administered for atopic dermatitis, the late chief minister was only taking oral hypoglycemic and anti-hypertensive drugs to control pre-existing diabetes mellitus and hypertension,” he stated.

In other words, she was just taking medication for dry skin, diabetes and high blood pressure. The ambulance team that rushed to her Poes Garden house had found her breathless, the government admitted.

More clarificationsApollo Hospital had initially claimed Jayalalithaa was admitted only for fever and dehydration, but the medical notes made public on Monday additionally reveal infection and respiratory distress.

Listing out doctors who treated Jayalalithaa, Radhakrishnan said her condition had taken a turn for the worse, but subsequently improved enough for her to be able to eat. Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest on December 4 when the intensivist from Apollo Hospital was in her room, he said.

“Every possible clinical attempt was made to sustain her revival,” Radhakrishnan said.

When it became apparent clinically that there was no heart function or neurological improvement, life support was removed, he said.

All were informedBut that was not before her condition was conveyed to officials, senior ministers and political leaders, including party leaders O Panneerselvam and V K Sasikala.

“All of them understood the situation and asked the medical team to act as per the standard protocol. Jayalalithaa passed away at 11.30 pm on December 5,” Radhakrishnan said.

Under the Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics Act, medical practitioners have to keep patient details confidential. However, “given the need to put at rest needless speculation”, the government decided to make public the discharge summary, he added.

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